Chapter 40: Yu Baiwei’s Guilt.

One minute—sixty full seconds.

After asking that question, Lu Zhao didn’t dare move, not even blinking, counting the seconds in his head as time dragged on.

His eyes stung, but he couldn’t miss a single shift in Yan Qingxin’s expression.

In that long minute, his blank mind finally caught up.

What’s wrong with her?

Just staring at me without a word.

A horrible thought hit him—had the shock broken her?

Panic surged, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Yan Qingxin suddenly sat up, startling him again.

Clutching his chest with his freed left hand, he gasped in relief.

My heart’s gonna give out one of these days.

“Bathroom… bathroom…” Yan Qingxin mumbled, stumbling off the bed.

Lu Zhao realized she’d been woken by the need to pee, eyes open but brain still offline.

A whole minute to process that?

He stared at her back, torn between shock and amusement.

But shock aside, this was his chance.

He grabbed Yu Baowei’s shoulders, shaking her. “Miss Yu, wake up! Stop sleeping, let go of my hand!”

He tried slipping his arm free, but after her brief waking earlier, she clung tighter, half her body pressing against him.

Her leg, hooked around him due to… certain areas, made him wary of big movements.

“What’re you yelling about? Can’t a girl sleep? No work tomorrow or what…” she grumbled.

The shaking worked—she didn’t think she was dreaming this time.

Blinking hard, she saw his face. “Huh? Why’re you here?”

Again with this? His mouth twitched.

“Miss Yu, could you please let me go?”

“Let go…”

Only then did she notice their position—or rather, her clinging to him.

Her fair skin flushed visibly, practically steaming in the dim light.

Slowly releasing his arm, she covered her chest, but shifting her leg, she misjudged the angle.

“Tch… easy, easy!” he hissed.

“!”

Realizing what happened, her blush deepened, noticeable even in the low light.

“Uh…” she started, but Lu Zhao cut in. “Miss Yu, this is a misunderstanding. Don’t overthink it. Let’s never mention it again. I’m out.”

He fled at breakneck speed.

Yu Baowei stared at the ceiling, dazed, piecing together what happened—including her groggy actions earlier.

Burying her face in the pillow, she wailed, “God, what did I do?! This… this… ugh!”

“Hm? Auntie Yu, what’re you doing?”

Her voice froze Yu Baowei. She stiffly turned to see Yan Qingxin.

“Uh… nothing, just a headache.” She forced a smile.

“What? How’d that happen?”

Yan Qingxin sat beside her, concern evident.

Her care deepened Yu Baowei’s guilt, but she kept up the facade.

“No big deal. Probably drank too much.”

“Oh, right, Ba—Lu Zhao’s got painkillers. I’ll grab some.”

“No need!”

Her sharp reaction startled Yan Qingxin.

Realizing she’d overreacted, Yu Baowei softened. “I mean… he’s probably asleep. I’m fine, used to it. Let’s sleep—class and work tomorrow.”

“Oh… okay.”

Yan Qingxin slipped off her dress and bra, setting them aside.

She naturally snuggled beside Yu Baowei, resting on her shoulder.

“Auntie Yu, how long’s it been since we slept like this?”

Her innocent words made Yu Baowei exhale softly. “Almost ten years, right?”

“Yeah, ten years. I missed you. Never thought I’d see you again thanks to Lu Zhao. It’s great.”

“Yeah… great.”

She agreed, but guilt gnawed at her. Had she… betrayed Qingxin?

“Let’s sleep, Qingxin.” Each word added to her self-reproach.

“Okay. Wait… did I mix it up? I thought Lu Zhao was sleeping next to me.”

“Must’ve misremembered. He went home. Said he’d come make breakfast.”

“He did?” Yan Qingxin lit up.

“Yeah.”

“Hehe, I knew he’s the best.”

Sigh… Yu Baowei’s heart sank again.

Morning came. Lu Zhao arrived next door.

After cooking, he hesitated to knock, recalling last night’s fiasco.

He’d acted cool, but seeing Yu Baowei again would be awkward.

Two deep breaths steadied him.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Qingxin, Miss Yu, you up?”

“Up!” Yu Baowei’s voice came instantly.

Yesterday, she’d lazed in bed. Today, she was up early—last night hit her hard too.

She opened the door in a T-shirt, eyes avoiding his.

If both acted awkward, they’d never get past it.

So Lu Zhao kept calm. “Qingxin up?”

Her tension eased under his lead. “Ahem, that girl’s a bit lazy. You wake her. I’m washing up.”

He stepped aside, and she carefully avoided touching him.

Inside, the messy bed brought back last night’s… embrace.

No, in this world, it’s a front-and-back assault.

What am I thinking? He shook off the thought.

Shaking Yan Qingxin, her fair skin swayed under the sunlight.

“Qingxin, up. We’ve got class. Hurry.”

She opened bleary eyes, smiling at him. “It’s Baby. Waking up to you is so nice.”

He pinched her cheek. “If it’s nice, get up. Food’s ready—won’t taste good cold.”

“Okay!” Food snapped her awake. She hopped up, giving him a big, milky-scented hug.

“Thanks, Baby. I hope every day’s like this.”

“…”

Haha… I really* don’t.